Justified Freely Through Faith in Christ’s Blood

 “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “Yet through His  powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away His righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin! Jesus’ God-given destiny was to be the sacrifice to take away sins, and now He is our mercy seat because of His death on the Cross. We come to Him for mercy, for God has made a provision for us to be forgiven by faith in the sacred Blood of Jesus. This is the perfect demonstration of God’s justice, because until now, He had been so patient—holding back His justice out of His tolerance for us. So He covered over the sins of those who lived prior to Jesus’ sacrifice. And when the season of tolerance came to an end, there was only one possible way for God to give away His righteousness and still be true to both His justice and His mercy—to offer up His Own Son. So now, because we stand on the faithfulness of Jesus, God declares us righteous in His eyes!”  Such stupendous legacy that God ordained in advance an atonement by faith in Jesus’s Blood for everyone who believes.  God gave mercy and by faith in Christ’s Blood we received God’s righteousness.  Hallelujah!

Grace and Peace to Us in Christ

 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “The work of righteousness is peace, and the result of righteousness is quietness and confidence forever. My people will live free from worry in secure homes and quiet resting places.”  This peace that comes is not from the works of man but from the righteousness that Christ exchanged for us through the Cross.  Jesus said, “How joyful you are when you make peace! For then you will be recognized as a true child of God.”  Jesus is the quiet resting place for every lover of God.  Christ is our true peace and Paul understood that for he released God’s peace to everyone he wrote his epistles to - grace and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, our Saviour.  May we know our identity in Christ and release God’s peace to everyone and every situation.  Amen!

By Faith We Please God in Obeying Him

 “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation to the Church, “For those living in constant goodness and doing what pleases Him, seeking an unfading glory and honor and imperishable virtue, will experience eternal life.”  Doing what pleases God comes from faith.  We must first believe in Jesus, the Anointed One.  Then our life and works will bring honour to Him.  When we do what pleases God, we can expect unfading glory, true honor, and a continual peace to us.  When the disciples asked Jesus, “So what should we do if we want to do God’s work?” Jesus answered, “The work you can do for God starts with believing in the One He has sent.”  Without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that He is real and that He rewards the faith of those who passionately seek Him.  Let’s be those who believe and walk in the faith of our risen Lord Jesus Christ and preach Christ.  Amen!

The Power of the Cross of Christ

 “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭31‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Woe to those who run down to Egypt for help, trusting in the might of their multitude of cavalry, chariots, and riders. Their confident trust is not in the Holy One of Israel, nor do they consult with Yahweh. The Egyptians are not gods; they’re only human! Their horses are not supernatural; they’re only flesh! When Yahweh demonstrates His power, the helper will stumble and the helped will fall— both will perish together!”  Egypt is symbolised as the world and the systems of this world.  As it was then, so it is today, that God fought the battle.  For God’s chosen people, God has already won the victory through the Cross.  Our trust is not on the systems of this world, but on the power of the Cross of Christ. Let each believer - God’s chosen - know what the Cross of Christ has done for us, and made the exchange through the Cross personally.  God has already disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in the power of the Cross.  So we move in the power of the Cross of Christ to defeat the world system.  That’s how we proclaim the Kingdom of God to which we belong.  Amen!

Sharing the Gospel with God’s Love

 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul was revealed, “Love obligates me to preach to everyone, to those who are among the elite and those who are among the outcasts, to those who are wise and educated as well as to those who are foolish and unlearned. This is why I am so excited about coming to preach the wonderful message of Jesus to you in Rome! I refuse to be ashamed of the wonderful message of God’s liberating power unleashed in us through Christ! For I am thrilled to preach that everyone who believes is saved—the Jew first, and then people everywhere!”  Paul recognised being obligated by God’s love to preach the Gospel to everyone, the rich, the poor, the indigenous and the foreigner, the cultured and the uncultured, to the successful and the unsuccessful - alike.  Infact Paul was eager to preach the Gospel to all, Jew, Greek, Roman etc. because it is the message of goodness and well-being.  The promised salvation message came historically to the Jews first and through the Jewish people in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Now our love obligation continues as we share the glorious Gospel without shame, to the Jews and to everyone unto the ends of the planet - this sweet message of Yeshua’s grace.  Amen!

Be Teachable

 “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Even though the Lord may allow you to go through a season of hardship and difficulty, he himself will be there with you. He will not hide himself from you, for your eyes will constantly see him as your Teacher. When you turn to the right or turn to the left, you will hear his voice behind you to guide you, saying, “This is the right path; follow it.”  The gift of teachers in the Body of Christ are those led by our heavenly Teacher, the Holy Spirit and they water our hearts with the rain of the Spirit and the rain of Truth.  When God teaches our hearts, it is the spring rain falling, refreshing and renewing our spirits.  We learn from the Holy Spirit that God is with us in our troubles and does not hide Himself from us when we pass through hard times.  God Himself teaches us lessons in our trials, as we set our eyes on Him no matter what is happening around us.  His voice leads us into making good decisions.  We have His promise of constant guidance as we listen to His voice.  The voice of the Lord and the Word of God are our faithful guides throughout our lives.  Amen!

Preach the Gospel in Obedience to Christ

 “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke recorded, “His father lay sick in bed, suffering from fits of high fever and dysentery. So Paul went into his room, and after praying, placed his hands on him. He was instantly healed. When the people of the island heard about this miracle, they brought all the sick to Paul, and they were also healed.”  Publius was the chief Roman officer of the island and Paul went to see his sick father.  After healing Publius’s father, others sick also came and Paul healed them all.  Although technically, Paul was a prisoner, he was the one setting everyone free.  He boldly preached the Gospel with signs and wonders and left the island healed in more ways than one. No matter what our status, preaching the Gospel in obedience to Christ, is the only power of God to salvation.  Matthew has recorded that all who came to Jesus were healed.  Jesus said to His disciples, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race! Whoever believes the good news and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the good news will be condemned. And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of my name. They will speak in tongues. They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”  Let’s be obedient to Christ as Paul was and let the power of the Gospel flow through us.  Amen!

Shout Jesus’s Praises

 “For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “For the terrible one will be no more, the scornful jester will not be found, and all the lovers of evil will be cut off.”  Isaiah told about the woes of Jerusalem and the blindness of disobedience and ultimately the future hope for mankind which rests on the meek who will inherit the earth.  All believers who are dead to sin and alive to righteousness will overflow with the joy of the Lord and the poor in spirit to whom the Kingdom of God belongs, will shout their praises to our Lord Jesus Christ.  For it has been prophesied that those who do wrong and are diligent to do evil including those in political power and influence who harm others will receive their judgment.  “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”  Let’s continue to look at Jesus and shout His praises.  Amen!

Giving Thanks in the Storm

 “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭35‬-‭37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “Then Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them, broke it and began to eat. There were 276 people who ate until they were filled, and were strengthened and encouraged.”  Giving thanks is really glorifying God, even after going through the stormy weather.  With the lack of food to eat, Paul gave thanks and fed every one of the passengers and crew members, all two hundred and seventy six of them.  It is likely that God multiplied the bread because no one had eaten for fourteen days being battered about on the storm tossed sea. Paul confidently gave thanks and ate, and all the others had good cheer and ate as well.  Paul lived in the Kingdom of God which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, regardless of outward circumstances.  This is the challenge for all believers in what Christ did on the Cross for each of us, that we should live in the Kingdom of God, whatever be our circumstances.  God has the power to change our sorrow into joy as we learn to surrender to the Holy Spirit.  Thank You, Jesus!

Our Faith Firmly Set on Our Chief Cornerstone

 “therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Here’s what the Lord God says: “Behold, I set in place in Zion a Foundation Stone, fully tested and proven to be faithful and secure. And written upon this precious cornerstone is this: ‘Those who trust in Him will not act in haste.’”  The Foundation Stone is Christ, set in place in the councils of eternity.  God’s Foundation Stone is His Son, just as it is written: “Be careful! I Am setting in Zion a Stone that will cause people to stumble, a Rock of offense that will make them fall, but believers in Him will not experience shame.””  Now the Son/Stone has become many, as Peter pointed out, “Come and be His “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that He readily accepts through Jesus Christ.”  From these sons/stones, the Father is building us into His holy temple.  Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone on which we rest our faith, because we are those who dwell in Zion’s realm.  Believers, throughout all time, have proven that He is faithful so we will never run away in fear.  Our faith is firmly set upon Christ, is patient and never rushes, for faith leaves the timings of all things in God’s hands.  As Peter said, “Whoever believes in Him will certainly not be disappointed.”  Let’s keep a firm faith on our Chief Cornerstone, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!